Does spaying change behaviour?

[Pixie]

HI,

Fiona goes in tonight to the vets to see if she is a healthy candidate for a spay. I am wondering if after a spay will her personality change? Right now she is very feisty, mischievous, loves getting into trouble and is definitely the boss of Norman. When she first meet him she humped him, flipped him over and peed all over him :giggle: And Norman is over 700g and she is around 300g. Luckily Norman is a gentleman and very passive about the whole thing.

I want to introduce her to Logan after her spay, and he may or may not get neutered depending on what the vet thinks of his sneezing. I'm just wondering if she will be less dominant after a spay and she isn't coursing with hormones? I know males can be a lot different afterwards, but I haven't heard much about females?

Thanks

 

[MissGuardian]

Good luck at the vets!
I don´t know the answers tho..
My Nirvana has calmed down slightly, but she was never dominant.. And she is still insane as hell..

 

[Dahlas]

The only way I can see a spay changing behavior would the animals would not have the hormonal fluctuations of going into heat, coming out of heat etc.... but it will not change her personality.

 

[jorats]

I've only seen a behaviour change in 2 girls out of over 60 girls done so I'm going to go with no.
She sounds like a fun rat though. Not mean, just very expressive. The fact that Norman didn't even react to her bossiness tells me that she's going about it all in fun.

 

[lilspaz68]

It shouldn't change a thing

 

[SQ]

The only behaviour changes I have ever noticed was a decrease in urine marking and no more desperate frantic behaviour from being in heat.

 

[mamarat]

I've never seen any changes either.

 

[Dazzle87]

Another one in the no changes in behavior club. LOL. It hasn't even decreased marking in my girls :emb:

 

[Pixie]

Vet appointment went good :thumbup: Fiona is booked for her spay on Monday March 21st. $305 but it will be well worth it. The vet has only done a few rats, but lots of rabbits and ferrets. They use the isoflurane gas and a heat pad during and after surgery. I forgot to ask about pain meds and antibiotics :emb: The vet was very enthusiastic about the benefits of spaying rats.

I am hoping that with spaying she will be easier to introduce to Logan.

 

[Moon]

The only time spaying should cause a behavioural change is if you are experiencing issues with hormonal imbalance. Since she sounds like a typical ladyrat, you should be fine LOL

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Not sure if this was spay related or just my girl growing up but I haven't caught my Lily humping since her spay.

 

[Dazzle87]

I think they tend to hump more when they are in heat (at least that's what I've noticed with my rats).

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I think they tend to hump more when they are in heat (at least that's what I've noticed with my rats).

If that's the case then I would say there is a behavior change just from the lack of a heat cycle (if that makes any sense).

 

[xxchelle]

If only my Ava could have mellowed out after her spay... She's still rat-balling with Azzie *sigh*

I do think there could be some sort of behavioral change, as Amanda said, just due to the lack of being in heat. But this obviously isn't as drastic/noticeable/common as the behavioral changes you experience with neuters.